Can the car still run if one ignition coil is broken?
2 Answers
It is recommended not to continue driving if one ignition coil is broken, as it may cause weak acceleration or even engine stuttering and stalling. The core components of the ignition system are the ignition coil and the switching device. Increasing the energy of the ignition coil allows the spark plug to generate sparks with sufficient energy, which is a basic requirement for the ignition system to adapt to the operation of modern engines. Typically, an ignition coil contains two sets of windings: the primary coil and the secondary coil. The primary coil uses thicker enameled wire, while the secondary coil uses thinner enameled wire. The ignition coil can transform the low-voltage electricity from the car into high voltage because it shares the same form as a regular transformer, with the primary coil having a higher turns ratio than the secondary coil.
If one ignition coil fails, the car can still run, but don't take it lightly. I've seen many owners encounter this situation—the engine shakes like a sieve, noticeably lacks power during acceleration, and sometimes emits pungent gasoline fumes from the exhaust. This actually means the faulty cylinder has stopped working, leaving the others to struggle alone. Driving like this long-term is really bad for the car. Unburned gasoline can flood into the exhaust pipe, easily ruining the catalytic converter. Plus, the onboard computer will trigger erratic warnings, and fuel consumption will skyrocket. My advice? Slow down immediately if you notice this issue—don't exceed 80 km/h or stomp on the gas. Head straight to the repair shop to replace the coil. After all, a new coil costs just a few hundred bucks, while fixing a ruined catalytic converter can set you back thousands.
